Aston Students' Union

Aston Students' Union

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Student Voice Manager

This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity to lead and develop a new Student Voice team at Aston Students’ Union.

Employer

Aston Students’ Union

Job title

Student Voice Manager

Closing date

10/07/2017

Salary

Grade 7 – Starting salary - £27,629

Additional benefits

Pension scheme and other benefits

Job description

Aston Students’ Union are looking for a key new role withinMembership Services.

This is an exciting opportunity to set up and create a new Student Voice team within a growing and dynamic students’ union.

As Student Voice Manager you will set up a new Student Voice team and you will be at the centre of the students’ union’s core role of representing the academic interests of Aston students. You will have a commitment and knowledge of membership organisations and be able to demonstrate impartiality in a student led, democratic environment.

Your role will be to manage the creation of new systems of representation across the university. You will manage the training of course representatives. You will put in place new and dynamic methods of putting

forward the Aston student voice.

You will manage aspects of the students’ union’s democratic processes and seek to maximize the involvement and commitment of our membership in students’ union democracy.

Person requirements

In order to succeed, you must possess strong communication skills and team management expertise. You must also possess excellent planning skills and be able to work as part of a team.

If you have a desire to work in vibrant, forward moving, democratic environment – then this post could be your next challenge.

Location

Birmingham city centre

Working hours

36.5 hours per week

Contract

Permanent

Working time

Daytime, occasional flexibility will be required.

How to apply

Send a CV and covering letter explaining how you meet the Job Description and Person Specification to Richard Broome, Membership Services Manager on .

If you would like to clarify any information you can email Richard Broome to request an informal chat.

Closing date 10am on Monday 10thJuly 2017.

Aston Students' Union

Student Voice Manager

Job Description

Principle purpose of job:To ensure that Aston Students’ Union is the expert and the champion representing the academic interests of students at Aston University

To manage the Student Voice team.

Work Location:Aston Students’ Union - Aston University campus

Responsible to:Membership Services Manager

Responsible for:1 x Student Voice Coordinator

Casual Staff as and when required.

Specific Responsibilities:

1.Ensuring Aston Students’ Union is expert in representing the academic interests of Aston students.

1. To lead and manage the Student Voice team to develop all areas of work relating to the student voice and representation.

1. To lead on the creation of a departmental strategy to support the further development of student-led campaigning across the university and when appropriate regionally and nationally.

1. To lead on the training and support for all Course Representatives and other students that represent the academic interests within the students’ union and university structures.

1. To take the lead on and ensure that there is a thriving student representation scheme across the university, removing barriers to engagement and offer opportunities for all students to access modes of input.

1. To work with the Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) team to build a strategy for a joined up service between the representation of individual students and the wider collective student voice.

1. Embed and develop effective Student Voice and representation structures at Aston University, including the Course Representatives and Aston Students’ Union’s democratic structures.

1. Lead the development of innovative, informal and non-traditional avenues of capturing the Student Voice.

1. Identify, develop and establish appropriate partnership activity with the university in relation to academic representation and Student Voice.

1. Increase the Aston Students’ Union’s knowledge, understanding and engagement with the student membership.

1. Develop best practice in student voice collection, collation and dissemination.

1. Support the elected student officers in developing new ways of collecting the student voice across the different campuses.

1. Work with the Membership Services Manager and other to build effective relationships with staff members at all levels of the university.

1. To ensure relevant information is passed throughout the students’ union helping to influence policy and practice.

1. Keep up to date with changes in union, university and national policy that impact on the work of the union or on the student membership, and support others to understand such changes.

1. To help support student officers and staff members to be able to raise the issues that matter to students at appropriate meetings with the university.

1. Respond effectively to questions about the student opinion on a range of different issues.

1. To support the sharing of student voice with elected student representatives at all levels to ensure they are able to effectively represent the academic interests of the wider student population.

1. To support manage, promote and lead the student-led teaching awards.

1. To work with the Membership Services Manager to lead on ensuring free, fair and successful student elections.

1. To work with the Membership Services Manager lead on the development and delivery of training for student officers.

2.General Responsibilities:

1. To develop and deliver a Student Voice strategy, in line with overall organisational priorities.

1. To manage the finances of the team, including preparing, monitoring and meeting all budgets and following procedures.

1. To continually develop the Student Voice department so that all staff remain experts in their field and identify opportunities for personal and career development.

1. To support the strategy and direction of the Membership Services team and support cross-departmental working.

1. To contribute to the student union’s strategic plan and work towards achieving its vision.

1. To work in close and appropriate collaboration with student officers to develop new schemes and projects and help them in formulating and achieving their relevant goals and objectives.

1. To monitor and update the relevant areas of the Union website.

1. To promote all of the students’ unions policies such as on equal opportunities.

1. To attend all training and supervision sessions when required.

1. To undertake other duties that may be assigned by the employer, as might reasonably be expected within the grade of the post.

1. To deputise for the Membership Services Manager as and when required.

Person Specification

• Good general education, typically to degree standard, including Maths and English at least to GCSE or equivalent.

• Demonstrable working knowledge of higher education and the issues affecting students today.

• Good working understanding of a representative and democratic environment.

• Appreciation of participation and engagement issues in the Higher Education and/or voluntary sector(s).

• Experience of strategically leading a team to produce clear results against set targets.

• Experience of devising, delivering and evaluating training using contemporary training and development practices.

• Experience of managing change.

• Experience of working with and supporting volunteers.

• Ability to effectively promote and evaluate a service.

• Computer literacy (standard office software including spreadsheets) and keyboard skills.

• Ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing or verbally.

• Demonstrable experience of developing and maintaining complex relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Able to present a variety of arguments and viewpoints whilst maintaining a neutral position.

• Experience of managing budgets.

• Ability to work effectively within a democratic structure.

• Ability to take a constructive and co-operative approach to solving problems.

• Ability to manage working time effectively, and prioritise projects appropriately.

• Ability to motivate others to achieve.

• Good information gathering and research skills.

• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently.

• Attention to detail.

• A commitment to the principles and practices of equality and diversity.

• A “can do” positive attitude to challenges.

Aston Student Voice Manager Job Descriptionpage 1